May 2016 - Marine Corps Nomads

May 26, 2016

Chicken Run

Continuing on with our theme of utilizing recycled materials for our chicken coop, I set out to make the chicken run out of as many recycled materials as possible. Of course, this means that things aren’t perfectly square or “just so”. Ultimately, the main goal is making sure the chickens are safe and happy. Like the coop, I used pallets for the gate to the chicken area and then to make a split door to the chicken run. I liked the idea of being able open up the bottom on the door separately from the top of the door. I…

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs at High Altitude

May 11, 2016

Heather L

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Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs at High Altitude

Posted in Gluten Free

Perfect hard boiled eggs at high altitude aren’t always easy, but this technique never lets me down. I have perfect hard boiled eggs every time. This technique even works well for farm-fresh eggs.

Heating Pad Mama Hen

Posted in Family, and Homesteading

I’ve taken a different approach to taking care of our baby chicks as I quickly realized that I didn’t like the traditional method of care. We started the first 6 chicks in a more traditional brooding box with heat lamp, but I just didn’t like the heat lamp. It was on 24/7. The chicks never really seemed to settle down. (I know I would have a hard time sleeping well if a heat light was on me 24/7.) The following week, when we brought the next 6 chicks home, we had just finished up the coop. We decided that we…

DIY Pallet Chicken Coop Part 2

The coop all tightly closed up with the new roof

May 3, 2016

Heather L

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DIY Pallet Chicken Coop Part 2

Posted in Family, and Homesteading

The door was a bit interesting to get hung properly, but thanks to some assistance from D, I got it done. I probably went with a little overkill on the size of the hinges, but I liked the way it looked on the door. 😉 I went with a simple gate latch. We secure it with a small carabiner clip as an added security measure. The one front panel has a window covered with chicken wire. (If it wasn’t in an enclosed backyard, I would have used hardware cloth instead. It keeps the dogs from getting in and the chickens…

DIY Pallet Chicken Coop Part 1

May 2, 2016

Heather L

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DIY Pallet Chicken Coop Part 1

Posted in Family, and Homesteading

When D said I could have chickens, I got super excited and immediately started planning the coop. We looked at those small coops at the feed store, but I honestly couldn’t justify the expense given how small they were. The materials were also not the best quality. The convenience aspect was certainly a draw as I would have a coop with small run within a couple of hours, but I passed. One thing that I really wanted with this chicken experience was too keep the cost down while still having a quality, secure coop. The coop also needs to be…